FREEHOLD, N.J. — The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) has launched a specialized Domestic Violence Unit, focusing on investigating and prosecuting intimate partner violence, Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.
The unit will be housed at the MCPO headquarters in Freehold Township and will operate separately from the Family and Juvenile Unit. Its work will concentrate on incidents involving current or former spouses and dating partners, commonly referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV).
“It is our firm expectation that this new Unit will thoroughly reinvent how such cases are handled in Monmouth County, making all such prosecutions far more efficient and effective,” Santiago said.
The unit will include six staff members, led by veteran Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan. The team will also feature two detectives and a dedicated support staff, working in collaboration with organizations such as the Monmouth County Abuse Intervention Program and 180 Turning Lives Around.
According to state data, New Jersey reports approximately 60,000 domestic violence offenses annually.